Filling feeler for automatic looms



June 12, 1951 s. G. TAYLOR 2,556,562

FILLING FEELER FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed June 20, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 GLTQyZar INVENTOR I BY f ATTORNEYS June 12, 1951 s. G. TAYLOR FILLING FEELER FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS 2 Sheets- Shee t 2 I Filed June 20, 1949 ATTORNEYSO Patented June 12, l5l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILLING FEELER FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Sterling G. Taylor, Opp, Ala.

Application June 20, 1949, Serial No. 100,150

3 Claims. (Cl. 139284) This invention relates to a filling feeler for an automatic loom of the Draper type, said feeler having the function of detecting an exhausted condition of the filling wound upon the bobbin, to

Y initiate the action of the automatic replenishing mechanism of the loom.

Conventionally, a bobbin when wound with filling is provided with a preliminary winding of said filling, or bunch. A filling feeler is so constructed and adjusted for functional operation as to call for replenishment upon substantial exhaustion of the filling wound upon the bobbin. When replenishment, in the form of a new fully wound bobbin, is called for, the filling remaining on the bobbin to be ejected from the shuttle, which filling, will comprise a portion of the bunch, constitutes waste. Filling feelers thus have been designed, and are in general use, that are specifically constructed to operate in a manner whereby said waste will be reduced to a minimum, while yet taking into account the fact that a full pick of filling should be laid in the shed under proper tension on the last flight of the shuttle preceding replenishment.

Provision of the bunch involves the use of a bunch builder on the spinning frame. It is, ac-

cordingly, the principal object of the present invention to provide a filling feeler which will operate efiectively without a bunch being wound upon the bobbin, thus eliminating entirely the bunch builder.

. Another important object is to provide a filling feeler of the character described which, though running without bunch, nevertheless functions in a manner whereby a full pick of filling will 1 be laid in the shed on the last flight of the shuttle preceding replenishment.

Still another object is to provide a filling feeler which will meet the desirable purposes stated above while yet reducing wastage by approximateinvention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the filling feeler, with the cover removed, showing the position of the parts thereof at the moment of its initial contact by a new bobbin.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, the parts being shown in their second position, wherein said new bobbin has been moved forwardly toward the feeler, so that the feeler is in feeling position. v

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the feeler and the bobbin in said feeling position, the bobbin being almost exhausted of filling and almost in need of replenishment.

Fig. 4 is a similar view again showing the feeler and. bobbin in feeling position, the filling on the bobbin now being depleted to the extent as to cause operation of the feeler to call for replenishment.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section on line 5'5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 6--6 of Fi 4.

Fig. '7 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 11 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 is a conventional bobbin or filling carrier wound with the filling 6. These do not of course constitute part of the present invention, per se. It will be understood that the bobbin 5 is carried in a shuttle receivable in left and right hand shuttle boxes provided upon the lay, and the filling feeler is adapted to extend through registeringopenings in the shuttle and shuttle box to feel the bobbin. The shuttle, shuttle box, and lay are not shown.

Describing the construction of the filling feeler mechanism of the invention, this includes a fiat rectangular box or case 1 adapted for mounting in the regular manner upon the usual filling feeler bracket, not shown, suitably secured to a stationary part, also not shown, of the loom.

Formed in the bottom of the box l are spaced openings 8 adapted to receive fastening means, not shown, whereby there is removably secured to the box a cover 9 therefor.

In the opposite end walls of the boxl are formed aligned recesses ll] so that therecanbe slidably mounted in the box a slide generally designated II, that projects from opposite ends of the box and which includes the elongated top and bottom plates l2 and I3 respectively. Plates i2 and it are rigidly connected and spaced apart at opposite ends thereof, by spaced apart spacer blocks M, l5 at one end of the slide, and by the spaced apart fixed feeler l6 and pivot block I! at the other end of the slide. The blocks l4 and i5 and the fixed feeler and pivot block it and ll are connected rigidly with and between the plates !2 and i3 by any suitable means, as by welding, rivets, or the like.

The pivot block I! projects toward the bobbin 5 from what may be conveniently termed the feeling end of the slide II, and the projecting portion of said block is provided with the screw is that constitutes a pivot, said screw it extending through the washer l9, and there being interposed between the washer and the pivot block the enlarged end 26 of the movable feeler 2!. Said feeler 21 is thus mounted for lateral swinging movement upon the slide l I, and is extended toward the bobbin in closely spaced parallel relation to the fixed feeler E5. The free end of the swinging i'eeier 2i is formed with the serrations 23 which, when engaged by the filling ii prevent swinging movement of the movable feeler 2!. The fixed feeler I5 is provided with the pointed tip 2a which extends slightly beyond the serrated tip 23 of the swinging feeler.

At its inner end, the projecting portion of the fixed feeler it is formed with a shallow clearance recess 22 into which the enlarged end 28 of the movable feeier 2i can extend (see Fig. 7) so that said fixed feeler will not interfere with swinging of the movable feeler between its respective extreme positions of rest illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Projecting upwardly into an opening 25 formed in the enlarged end 2B of the movable feeler is a lug 26 carried at one end of an elongated straight arm 2! formed intermediate its ends with the laterally extended finger 28 having at its free end the cam surface 29 receivable in the cam notch 86 of a lever 35 pivoted intermediate its ends as at 32 and having at one end the opening 33 into which extends the suitably bent inner end of the lifting lever connecting rod 34.

Only a ortion of the connecting rod 34 has been illustrated, but it will be understood that the other end of the rod, not shown, connects to the usual lifting lever, also not shown, whereby the bobbin transfer mechanism, also not shown, is actuated.

Surrounding the connecting rod 3-3 is the spring 35 abutting at one end against the side wall of the box l and at the other end against a collar 3'3 fixed to the rod, the rod being loosely slidable in opening 35 formed in said side wall of the box i.

When free to expand, the spring 36 moves the rod 34 in a direction away from the box 7, thus pulling the lever 3| to the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

In operation, it will be assumed that a full bobbin 5 has arrived in the left hand shuttle box, and that the lay is about to move forwardly toward the box i, that is, to the right in Fig. 1. At this stage, the parts will all be positioned as in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the lay has moved forwardly, so that the feeler is pressed backwardly within the box. As a result, lever 31 is swung to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, so that said rod 34 is withdrawn into the box against the action of the spring. As a result, when, at this time, the usual cam follower (not shown) moves forwardly across the path of the lifting lever, also not shown, the lift ing lever will have been moved out of said so that the cam follower will not trip the bobbin transfer mechanism.

On each fiight of the shuttle, the bobbin 5 will be moved forwardly to the position illus trated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, on the usual detecting beats. As long as there is an adequate supply of filling 6 upon the bobbin, the bobbin w n moved forwardly on said beats will press the feeler back 4, far enough to keep the finger 28 pressed against the rear end of the lever 3|, and out of the cam notch 30.

In Fig. 3 the bobbin is shown almost exhausted, but having just enough filling to permit another fiight of the shuttle Without call for replenishment. Note that in this position, the finger 28 has almost moved into the cam notch 30, but is still out of said notch so that the lever 3! is still held in its inoperative position. Thus, even on the detecting beat shown in Fig. 3, movement of the cam follower in its periodic movement into the channel of the actuator, not shown, will not trip the transfer mechanism. Yet, it will :be observed that the fixed feeler tip 24 is positioned against the bare bobbin 5. With further reference to Fig. 3, it will be noted that there is no bunch upon the bobbin, but the small amount of filling left is still positioned in engagement with the serrated tip 23 of the movable feeler 2i, and thus will prevent any tendency of said movable feeler 2! to swing to the position illustrated in Fig. 4. At the same time, pressure tending to swing said feeler 2| to the position of Fig. 4 is being exerted by the spring 36, which causes a pull upon the left hand end of the lever 3i, that is translated into pressure against the cam surface 29 of the finger 28, which pressure is exerted to the left in Fig. 3, tending to swing the movable feeler 2i downwardly in Fig. 3.

On the next detecting beat, as seen in Fig. 4, more filling will have been used, so that that portion of the bobbin adjacent which the serrated tip 23 is positioned, is bare. Now, spring 36 is permitted to expand, because there is nothing to hold the serrated tip 23 against swinging movement. The spring. expanding, moves the actuating rod 34 away from the box '1, and cams the finger 28 fully into the cam notch 30, swinging arm 2i to the position illustrated in Fig. 4. I

Thus, said movement of the rod 34 away from the box I tilts the lifting lever at the very moment that the cam follower moves into the actuator channel, and said lifting lever, extending across the path of movement of the cam follower, acts as a key whereby the transfer mechanism is tripped. Thus, the spent bobbin 5 is ejected and a newly wound bobbin is substituted, returning in the position illustrated in Fig. l. The spent bobbin has only a small amount of filling 6 left thereon, enough to cause a full pick of filling to be laid in the shed on the last flight of the shuttle, but at the same time eliminating much of the usual bunch, thereby reducing considerably the waste normally attendant upon the transfer operation.

For the purpose of yieldably holding the. feeler extended in the direction of the bobbin 5, and yieldably pressed against the bobbin, I provide the return spring 38 connected at one end to ear 3.? that is rigid with the slide II Within the box l, and which is connected at the other end to stud 46 mounted Within the box.

The purpose of the fixed feeler l6, that projects slightly beyond the serrated movable feeler, is to hold. the teeth of the movable feeler out of contact with filling wound upon the bobbin, when the amount of said filling is reduced to an extent as makes appropriate a call for a new supply. It will be understood, however, that the amount of filling remaining at the time such call is made is no more than enough for another flight of the shuttle, plus a small, necessary amount of wastage. The fixed feeler functions, in this connection, by penetrating the filling and engaging the core of the bobbin when the filling wound upon the bobbin is reduced to an extent as to barely cover the bobbin. Since the tip of the fixed feeler projects only slightly beyond the teeth 23, however, said teeth will still be engaged by this small amount of filling, as may be noted from Fig. 3, wherein it is seen that the fixed feeler is in full engagement with the core of the bobbin, while the teeth 23 still engage the movable I'eeler against lateral swinging movement, due to the engagement of said teeth by the small amount of filling wound upon the bobbin core.

What is claimed is:

1. A filling feeler for automatic looms comprising a box, a slide therein, means yieldably extending the slide toward a bobbin wound with filling, a fixed feeler extending from the slide and adapted to contact said bobbin, a movable feeler pivotally mounted upon the slide and adapted to contact filling wound upon the bobbin, a connecting rod extending from the box and adapted to initiate a bobbin transfer motion, a spring normally pressing the rod away from the box, and means extending between the movable feeler and rod and adapted to hold the rod against the action of the spring until the movable feeler is unrestrained by filling wound upon the bobbin.

2. A filling feeler for looms comprising a box,

a slide mounted for sliding movement in the box, a fixed feeler extending from one end of the slide, a movable feeler extending from and pivotally mounted upon said end of the slide, said feelers adapted to contact a bobbin and said movable feeler adapted to be restrained against swinging movement by filling wound upon the bobbin, an arm pivotally connected at one end to the movable feeler and slidable within the slide, a finger extending from said arm, a pivoted lever within the box and having a cam notch adapted to cam the finger in one position of the finger and lever to swing the movable feeler, a connecting rod connected to said lever and adapted to initiate a transfer motion, and a spring normally exerting pressure tending to move the rod and lever to swing the movable feeler,

3. A filling feeler for automatic looms comprising a box, a slide mounted for sliding movement therein, a spring normally tending to move the slide in one direction wherein it is yieldably pressed against a bobbin, a fixed feeler mounted upon the slide and adapted to contact said bobbin, a movable ieeler pivoted upon said slide, a serrated feeler tip on the movable feeler normally engaged by the filling wound upon the bobbin to hold the movable feeler against pivotal movement, a rod extending from the box and adapted to initiate a bobbin transfer motion, a lever pivoted within the box and connected to the rod, an arm slidably mounted within the slide and connected to the movable feeler for swinging the feeler, and a finger rigid with said arm and normally engaging the lever against movement, said lever having a cam notch into which the finger can move when the serrated tip is no longer engaged by filling, for connecting rod actuation.

S'I'ERLING G. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,327,069 Stimpson Jan. 6, 1920 1,387,204 Snow Aug. 9, 1921 1,515,896 Turner Nov. 18, 1924 1,944,624 Waters et al. Jan. 23, 1934 2,050,066 Payne Aug. 4, 1936 

